When it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), staying on top of the trends is about more than just sounding savvy when you talk tech with your colleagues. Also, SEO industry is quite treacherous that you never know that when Google will launch its next game-changing update.

A new year means the new SEO hypothesis and trends. While there are few components of SEO which have worked for certain years and will carry on to work, there will always be new trends which you need to shift your concentrate to.

One of the most frequent questions that I have heard is, “What is new in SEO?”

It is a continuously changing landscape which never sits idle long. It looks like that the year of 2017 will be an interesting year for SEO. Here are SEO Trends for the Year 2017.

5 Search Engine Optimization Trends for 2017

#1. Google Shows More Love to AMPs (Accelerated Mobile Pages)

AMPs are a free to use. I mean an open-source protocol that lets the webmaster build pages capable of loading almost rapidly on mobile devices. The concept of AMPs is that a handful of simple structural modifications that can make your site load much faster about four times faster and use eight-times fewer data.

Google has already started to favor websites, which have switched over to AMPs. Providing them visibility in a carousel and a little icon with a lightning bolt showing their AMP status. In the year of 2017, we can expect that we will see more favoritism for AMP in Google search results, with more brands leveraging of this option.

We all know that User Experience plays a huge role when it comes to SEO. Google favors websites which are adequately optimized for mobile devices, load quickly, and clear that user enjoys their experience with extended time spent on page and more.

However, in the year of 2017, we may see an optimized focus on user experience, especially as it associates to mobile devices. AMPs that I have mentioned first could be the first sign of this trend. But also search for other strategies, which Google will favor pages which offer better user experiences overall.

#3. Machine Discovering Will Modify the Way the Google Algorithm Works (RankBrain)

Google has introduced its RankBrain algorithm at the end of 2015, and open the door to the opportunities of algorithmic machine learning. Google Hummingbird features as a way to steadily learn more about how the users phrase conversational queries and upgrade its algorithm automatically accordingly.

However, we haven’t seen any other upgrade like it since, but I assume that we are overdue for one. Google will be most likely to start releasing more machine discovering updates as the year go on, but in future, we may even see machine exploring in other areas like marketing automation or data interpretation, as well.

#4. Incorporate Short Branded Links

Another essential aspect in Search Engine optimization is KPIs that search engines take into account when ranking pages is ‘iteration.’

In SEO, iteration means the more the content is read and shared on the internet and the more credible and unique the information it includes. And the best way to get your content shared is through ‘short branded links.’

This is a bit of new in link format. Presently, this short new link format has been used by Fortune 500 companies like NY Times (nyti.ms), Pepsi (pep.si), etc., to push their agenda on the web and it is working. The study shows that using short branded links in optimizer CTR by 35%. Not to mention they are vital on social media channels which limit post characters.

Last, but not least, let’s talk about the very important practice of personal branding. With a personal branding, you will have an easy time securing guest posts, driving more traffic and building user trust for your website/blog. But, a shockingly small number of brands have the leverage of this in their SEO efforts.

As social media channels such as Facebook continue improving their algorithms to benefit individual posts over the branded posts. So we can assume that we will see more organizations and companies leveraging of personal branding. This will together lead to more chances and more competition, so be careful and ensure your strategy is in order.

Conclusion

It is difficult to say that exactly what Google and any other search engines have in store for us in this year, but these five trends will likely develop in a meaningful way.

There is no need to overhaul your strategy instantly; however, you should be aware of how all of these trends could affect your campaign in the near future.

So it is important that you should be aware of your surroundings, and also the better you are able to predict changes in the pipeline, the more probably you will be able to stay on top of the SEO game.

Nikhil Makwana is the co-founder of BforBlogging. He is a passionate blogger and turned blogging into a money making ideas for smart passive income. He writes and shares about starting and managing a blog, WordPress, Promotional Tips, Tools and making money online.